A contemporary art exhibition that seeks to ask what is normal, and who decides, has been announced as part of DaDaFest, the leading international disability and deaf arts festival.

Niet Normaal's Difference on Display begins at the Bluecoat in Liverpool on Friday and it also forms part of the London 2012 Festival programme. The exhibition opens at the end of this week and continues until 2 September. It contains the work of more than 30 artists who are all addressing the question of what is 'normal.'

The question will be asked through art that aims to celebrate difference during 2012, the Olympic and Paralympic year, in the context of the DaDaFest.Niet Normaal brings together important artworks by a number of leading artists and has been adapted by curators Ine Gevers and Garry Robson from a highly successful exhibition in Amsterdam in 2010, that attracted more than 50,000 visitors.

It is the group's first show in the UK. The exhibition questions how people make snap judgements about other people 'every minute of every day.' These are based on superficial factors including appearance, health, age and behaviour.

Garry Robson, co-curator of Niet Normaal, says: "Through an exciting array of provocative contemporary works in a whole range of media, this immersive exhibition stimulates visitors to think about their own definition of difference and normality and suggest alternative ways of looking at art, science and society."

DaDaFest's chief executive Ruth Gould says Niet Normaal is a major offer in the festival this year. She is also delighted that is also part of the London 2012 festival. "Not only is the exhibition a stirring and thought provoking collection of works in its own right, it is moving on the debate of how everyone is affected by issues of disability at some point in their lives and it brings it into the mainstream," she said.

"It's made especially poignant in a Paralympic year."

The Bluecoat's artistic director, Bryan Biggs, is delighted about the exhibition and says it raises pertinent and provocative questions at a time when much focus will be on sporting attainment and "the body beautiful."

There will also be a series of talks, films, workshops and seminars at the Bluecoat, where the public and artists can discuss the issues it raises.

DaDaFest is the largest, most comprehensive and challenging festival of disability and deaf art and takes place from 13 July to 2 September, coinciding with the exhibition. The majority of live events are during the last two weeks of August, including comedy and music.